isn't things like charging interest rate, etc. against Protestant's belief system?

Question

aren't Protestants the richest Christians in the world?
is there a link to show how wealthy protestants are comparing to catholics, etc?

Answer 1

*Is Catholic*

There is no such thing as a singular "Protestant belief system", that is why there is so many groups.

The answer is for some yes, for some no.

I would recommend that you read

The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism by Max Weber.

It will be highly informative.

Answer 2

I am going to bow to Meg, who seems to know her religious history. It appears to me that, whether or not you approve of interest, you're still going to pay it, if you borrow. I feel they are not going to turn down interest that is paid on savings or investments. No way.

Actually, when it comes to money, the Catholic Church takes the trophy. There are treasures in the Vatican worth billions of dollars, artifacts and art and statuary I would give my right arm to glimpse. These things do not generate cash, of course, unless they are sold, but their value is there.

As for the Protestants, some of them are richer than others. At the moment, the Justice Dept. is investigating the leaders of some of the Mega-Churches. If you have the opportunity, take a look at some of their homes. Lavish. With private jets, fancy autos...the works! I don't know about interest, but there is some doubt that our faith-based money is reaching the poor.

If you ever have a chance, go into a midcity and visit a small Black church, usually located in an old store that has been vacated. They have long and unusual names...the Church of the Christ of the Holy Jehovah, or similar names...and the people dress up in finery each Sunday and attend, with spirit and enthusiasm, singing songs with a gusto that is missing in white churches. It's an uplifting experience. They have little money and, if they borrowed money, you bet there would be interest...big time.

Answer 3

I'll answer honestly. It depends upon your interpretation of commands against usury.

Some see the passage as saying "don't take advantage of the poor" by charging too much on those who cannot pay. Those who adhere to this view believe that reasonable interest as compensation for the risk taken by lending money is acceptable, while charging excessive interest or requiring excessive collateral is unacceptable. Note that while Jesus speaks against taking a man's cloak as collateral for a loan, in the parable of the talents He chastises the servant who buries the money for not putting it in the bank to earn interest.

An opposing school of thought sees all interest as usury, and looks back to the commands in Ezekial and Leviticus, which exhort the Israeli community to not charge interest because this ultimately leads to squabbles.

There's nothing in Scripture against making money honestly, although there is often a tacit assumption of the appropriate use of it.

If you look at pure wealth in terms of assets, it's hard to compare with much of the land, buildings and art that the Catholic church has built and enjoyed for the past 2,000 years. Then again, how would you value the Sistene Chapel, or a 1,500 year old church?

If you look at terms of liquid assets (cash and funds), there's probably more in all of the Protestant denominations combined than in the Catholic church, only because the Catholic church doesn't do much investing. Protestants tend to be far more financially savvy - I think it's just something we Catholics haven't caught up with yet. Note that some megachurches (a Protestant innovation) have begun issuing bonds for the purpose of construction or expansion.

I think the U.S. Census collects data related to religion as well as income, but not at a personal level. You might be able to try to compare heavily Catholic areas with heavily Protestant areas in terms of income, but there's so many other variables at play that your results wouldn't show much statistically.

Answer 4

Interest was denounced by a number of spiritual leaders and philosophers of ancient times, including Plato, Aristotle, Cato, Cicero, Seneca, Plutarch, Aquinas, Muhammad, Moses, and Gautama Buddha
It was condemned by the Catholic church which is why Jews dominated banking in medieval Europe. England when it became Protestant under Henry VIII legalized collecting interest for Christians. Only Islam still forbids the charging interest.

Answer 5

Ah, the perils of Capitalism! When all values are reduced to the bottom line what is one to expect?
Veritatu... are you familiar with the Vatican scandal re: Banco Ambrosiano, with Paul Macingus et al? The unexpected death of John Paul I? If not a cursory look at it alone can convince anyone that the bottom line rules, Protestant or Catholic.

Answer 6

Forbidding the charging of interest might demonstrate to some that deism as a form of government (present-day Islam , Bushism (if we'd let him), Fascism as pursued by Hitler (killing 6 millions Jews for his religious satisfaction) is rarely in the interests of people. I'm still baffled as to why Jesus flayed out at the money-changers in the temple, when the 'temple', so to speak, turns around and builds ANOTHER temple when there is poverty and leprosy in the streets, or why the Catholic church spends millions on those intricately embroidered Halloween costumes and looks the other way with knowledge of death camps in Poland, or why our Christ-oriented president (Cheney? nah!) Bush, has spent a trillion $s to war against ......WHAT?....what is this war all about? An alien civilization looking at where our priorities lie would assuredly get a big kick out of making change for a buck being a MORTAL sin!

Answer 7

Very good question and great answer by meg.

Thanks both of you